Building and air distributing system



y 4, 1963 B. E. CURRAN 3,089,649

BUILDING AND AIR DISTRIBUTING SYSTEM Filed Oct. 26, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

BERNARD E. CURRAN 7 1 BY Q g 5% TORNEY May 14, 1963 B. E. CURRAN BUILDING AND AIR DISTRIBUTING SYSTEM 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed 001:. 26, l

INVENTOR.

URRAN BERNARD E. C /JI A T ORNEY May 14, 1963 B. E. CURRAN BUILDING AND AIR DISTRIBUTING SYSTEM 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Oct. 26, 1960 ROOM SUPPLY AIR United States Patent Ofiice 3,089,649 Patented May 14, 1963 3,089,649 BUILDWG AND AER DKSTRIBUTING SYSTEM Bernard E. Qurran, Sewickley, Pa., assignor to H. H. Robertson Company Filed Oct. 26, 1960, Ser. No. 65,110 4 Claims. ((Il. 23750) This invention relates to a building and air conditioning system. More particularly this invention concerns buildings having a cellular metal floor comprising a structural element of the building and having certain selected cells available for the distribution of conditioned air throughout the building.

Building structures according to the present invention have been generally described in US. Patent 2,729,429, Goernann, assigned to the assignee of the present invention. In the aforementioned patent, metal cellular flooring is described as forming a structural component of a building. Extending longitudinally of such buildings are generally parallel air supply ducts, one of which provides relatively warm air and the other of which provides relatively cool air. The air-carrying, metal, floor cells which also comprise a structural element of the building, are disposed transversely to the generally parallel air supply ducts. The generally parallel air supply ducts preferably are aligned with corridors of the building and are positioned beneath the cellular metal floor in the zone above the corridor space of the floor beneath. Thus the corridor ceiling height is relatively lower than the normal ceiling height in the room portions of the building.

According to the present invention, in one aspect, further advantage is taken of the available space above the corridor of the building for the location of correlated air flow regulating means for controlling the discharge of air into each of the rooms of the building. Specifically, with respect to each room of the building, a supply of air is provided in the transverse metal cells through coupling connection-s between each air supply duct and a selected air-carrying metal cell. The air is withdrawn from the cell, passed through a flow regulating means -for controlling its volume of flow and reintroduced into the same cell without further regulation :for discharge into the room. One warm air cell and one cold air cell sup-ply each of the individual rooms of the building. Access openings are provided in the ceiling of the corridor to permit maintenance of the flow regulating means directly from the corridor space without requiring entry of maintenance personnel into the working rooms of the building. This is an advantage since it eliminates disturbance of the building personnel when air conditioning maintenance is required.

A further advantage of the present invention resides in the availability of relatively low silhouette air outlet boxes for dissipating the blended, conditioned air into each individual room. Heretofore, with control elements positioned above the floor level of each room in a building at the point of air discharge, relatively high silhouette air outlet boxes Were required to accommodate the flow regulating apparatus. According to the present invention the control apparatus is positioned remotely from the discharge outlets which are located within the rooms. Hence the conditioned air can be discharged into each individual room at substantially the floor level, thereby permitting the use of very low silhouette air outlet boxes serving as air discharge means. The available space in each individual room is thereby increased.

A further feature of the present invention resides in the use of the individual air cells themselves as conduits for the passage of pneumatic or electric impulse lines which serve to sense the conditions within each individual room and to transfer pneumatically or electrically the necessary impulses for setting the flow control apparatus which regulates the relative quantities of warm and cold air entering into each individual room. By positioning the pneumatic or electrical impulse lines within the air carrying cells themselves, it is possible to assemble the entire building (i.e., pouring concrete above metal cellular flooring and finishing interior walls and ceilings) prior to the installation of air conditioning control apparatus. The pneumatic or electrical impulse lines can be readily drawn through the unobstructed air-carrying cells.

An additional feature of this invention is a novel regulating means for an air conditioning and distribution system embodying selected cells of metal cellular flooring as air-carrying conduits. Specifically the air is introduced into a selected metal cell at a point remote from the air discharge means or outlet box. The air is withdrawn from the metal cell and passed through an underflow flow regulating means in a U-shaped external conduit for controlling its flow rate according to the conditions existing in the room. The air, at a rate which is thus controlled, is reintroduced into the same metal cell for transmission to the remote air discharge means located in the room.

A principal object of this invention is to provide a buiding structure and air conditioning system having both main air supply ducts and control apparatus positioned in corridor space of the building above the ceiling thereof.

A further object of this invention is to provide a building and air conditioning structure having all of the air flow control means accessible from the corridor space of the building thereby permitting maintenance operations without interference with normal working operations in the building.

A further object of this invention is to provide a building and air conditioning system wherein electric or pneumatic impulse lines for regulating air flow control means are positioned within the individual air cells themselves.

Another object of this invention is to provide a building and air conditioning structure wherein conditioned air is introduced into a longitudinal underfloor metal cell, is withdrawn from that cell for flow regulation in a U- shaped external conduit and is thereafter reintroduced into the same longitudinal cell in a regulated quantity.

These and other objects of the present invention will become apparent from the following detaileddescr-iption by reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of a floor of a typical building, partly broken away, as seen from the upper surface, illustrating a longitudinal central corridor and a plurality of rooms extending from each side thereof;

FIGURE 2 is a cross section illustration taken along the line 22 of FIGURE 1 illustrating in detail a warm air distribution cell;

FIGURE 3 is a cross-section illustration taken along the line 33 of FIGURE 1 illustrating in detail a cold air distribution cell;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary cross-section illustration taken along the line 4-4 of FIGURE 1 showing a terminal and discharge unit for a single air cell; and

FIGURE 5 is a schematic illustration showing a typical air flow regulating means which can be employed in the utilization of the present invention.

Referring to FIGURE 1, there is illustrated a representative floor plan of .a typical building as seen from the upper surface of a floor 10. Extending transversely across the building and supported by beams 11 (not seen in FIGURE 1) are a plurality of metal cellular flooring sections including air cells 12 and electrical cells 13. A layer of concrete 14 (not seen in FIGURE 1) is poured above the metal cellular flooring in conventional manner. The building has outer walls 15, corridor walls 16 and room divinding walls 17. Extending longitudinally of the building is a pair of air supply ducts 18, 19 which receive hot and cold air respectively from suitable sources such as a hot air riser 20 and a cold air riser 21 which extend vertically through the building. For each individual room there is at least a pair of air carrying cells 12, one of which is connected to the hot air supply duct 18 and the other of which is connected to the cold air supply duct 19. The connections are made by suitable couplings 22 which join the interior of supply ducts 18, 19 with selected underfloor air carrying cells 12.

For each air cell 12 supplying each room there is a control means 23 positioned entirely in the corridor space of the building between the corridor walls 16. The air supply ducts 18, 19 and control means 23 are positioned entirely above the corridor ceiling 24 (not seen in FIGURE 1). A plurality of access openings 25 (FIG- URES '2, 3 is provided in the corridor ceiling 24 in association with each of the control means 23 to permit access to the control means 23 for installation and maintenance purposes.

Within each of the individual rooms a suitable mixing and distributing apparatus or outlet box 26 is provided which includes a plenum chamber 27 for receiving, blending and discharging air from a pair of air carrying cells 12 located beneath the concrete floor 14 and serving that individual room. Neither mixing nor control apparatus is required at the discharge point in the outlet box 26. Thus a chimney 28 is positioned in communication with each of the individual floor cells 12 adjacent to a wall, such as the outer wall 15. The outlet box 26 is secured to the Wall 15 by means of a suitable anchoring channel 29. A decorative grill work 30 preferably is provided on the upper surface of the outlet box 26 to direct blended air into each individual room. The outlet box 26 is constructed in association with a decorative floor covering 31 which is applied to the upper surface of the concrete floor 14. Preferably a suitable baflle member 32 is positioned within the outlet box 26 to create positive intermingling of the two streams of conditioned air (hot and cold) thus supplied.

It will be observed that the air carrying cells 12 which service each individual room are provided in generally parallel pairs. One cell of each pair is connected to the hot air supply duct 18 and the other cell of the pair is connected to the cold air supply duct 19. These connections are shown respectively in FIGURES 2 and 3. Referring to FIGURE 2, the hot air supply duct 18 is connected to the underfloor cell 12 by means of a coupling member 22. Relatively hot air passes from the hot air supply duct 18 into the underfloor cell 12 through the coupling member 22. A pair of baffles 33 is positioned within the underfloor cell 12, one beyond each coupling member 22. A U-shaped external conduit 34 is provided on each side of the coupling member 22 communicating with the underfloor cell 12 before and after each of the baffles 33. Disposed within the external conduit 34 is a hot air control means schematically indicated by the numeral 35. Thus the hot air passes from the conduit 12 into the external conduit 34, through the hot air control means 35 and is returned through the external conduit 34 to the underfloor cell 12 beyond the baffle members 33.

The cold air cell illustrated in FIGURE 3 corresponds with the hot air cell already described in connection with FIGURE 2 except that a cold air control means 36 is indicated schematically in each external conduit 34.

A thermostat 37 is positioned within each of the individual rooms of the building. An instrument supply air source 38 (seen in FIGURES 2 and 3 as a conduit in cross-section) provides substantially constant pressure instrument supply air through a conduit 39 to the thermostat 37. The air pressure of the instrument supply air conduit 39 is bled off acording to the temperature conditions within the individual room as measured by the thermostat 37 and a pressure of air is maintained in a thermostat control conduit 40 which is directed through an underfloor cell 12 to the hot air flow control means 35. Thus the hot air flow control means 35, as will be hereinafter described, regulates the amount of air flowing through the external conduits 34 (of FIGURE 2) in accordance with the measured temperature within the individual rooms as determined by the thermostat 37.

The supply of cold air, as illustrated in FIGURE 3, is regulated according to the volume of air which enters each individual room. The total volume of air which enters each individual room is the summation of that entering in the form of hot air and that entering in the form of cold air. A constant volume of total air is maintained by means of a pair of pressure sensing tubes 41, 42. The pressure sensing tube 41 has an open end exposed to the interior of an individual room through a wall of the outlet box 26 and the pressure sensing tube 42 has an open end communicating with the interior of the outlet box 26. The decorative grille 30, having a constant cross sectional area, serves as an orifice and the two pressure sensing tubes 41, 42 which measure the differential pressure across that orifice. The pressure sensing tubes 41, 42 extend through the air cell 12 to the cold air flow control means 36 where they communicate with a differential pressure measuring element 43. A supply of instrument air is withdrawn from the supply conduit 38 through a conduit 44 and connected to the differential pressure measuring element 43. The instrument supply air in the conduit 44 is bled oflf according to the diflerential pressure indicated in the differential pressure measuring element 43 and the residual pressure regulates the volume of cold air which passes through the cold air flow control means 36.

It will be observed from inspection of FIGURES 2 and 3 that the height of each corridor ceiling 24 is less than the height of an individual room ceiling 45. According to the present invention, full advantage has been taken of the available space generated by the use of relatively lower ceilings in the corridor spaces of a building.

Conservation of vertical space achieved by the present system is clearly seen in FIGURE 4 wherein the relative thickness between the upper surface 31 of one floor and the ceiling 45 of the subjacent floor will be appreciated. The low silhouette outlet box 26 achieved by the present system also can be observed. Availability of conventional metal flooring cells 13 for electrical power and communication services also is retained.

Suitable control apparatus for the operation of the present invention is illustrated in FIGURE 5 in a schematic manner. Corresponding numerals in FIGURE 5 identify corresponding elements as shown in the preceding drawings. Referring to FIGURE 5, the individual room outlet box 26 receives a supply of hot and cold air from the conduits 12. The total amount of hot air entering into the outlet box 26 is determined by the position of the control means 35 located within the external conduit 34. The thermostat 37, located within the individual room, regulates the pressure of an instrument air supply from conduit 39 and thereby controls the pressure of air in the thermostat control conduit 40 which is connected, as shown in FIGURE 5, to an air motor 50. The air motor 50 positions a suitable butterfly damper within the external conduit 34 according to the pressure in the thermostat control conduit 40, and hence according to the temperature existing within the room. As the temperature within the room increases above a predetermined value, as set on the thermostat 37, the piston motor 50 causes the butterfly damper 51 to move in a closing direction, thereby reducing the flow of hot air through the external conduit 34- and thence into the individual room through the air cell 12. As the temperature within the individual room decreases, the reverse cycle follows and the piston motor 50 moves the butterfly damper in an opening direction to allow increased quantities of hot air to flow through the external conduit 34 and thence into the individual room through the air cell 12.

A constant total volume of discharged air is maintained by means of the differential pressure measuring apparatus 43 associated with the cold air supply system. Thus the amount of cold air introduced into the individual room is the difference between the predetermined constant volume quantity and that quantity which is being instantaneously supplied from the hot air source under the influence of the butterfly damper 51. When the temperature within the individual room decreases, an increased supply of hot air is introduced into the outlet box 26, thereby momentarily tending to increase the total volume of air passing into the individual room. The tendency toward increased flow rate is accompanied by an increase in differential pressure as sensed by the pressure sensing conduits 41 and 42. The increased differential pressure is transmitted to the differental pressure measuring apparatus 43 which thereupon alters the pressure of the instrument supply air from the supply air conduit 44. The pressure of air in a pressure control conduit 52 positions a piston motor 53. The piston motor 53 accordingly moves a butterfly damper blade 54 which is maintained in the external conduit 34 in a closing direction thereby decreasing the amount of cold air which is introduced into the individual room so that the total volume of air instantaneously being supplied to the individual room remains constant. The control principles and means for etfectuating those principles as typified by the apparatus of FIGURE 5 are well known in the art and are described in detail in copending application S.N. 27,411 by Arthur P. Jentoft, filed on May 6, 1960, now Patent No. 3,026,041, and assigned to the assignee of the present invention.

It should be apparent that the thermostatically regulated flow control means (conduit 40 and piston motor 50') could be applied to the cold air damper blade 54 while the constant volume flow control means (differential pressure regulator 43 and piston motor 53) could be applied to the hot air damper blade 51.

In place of butterfly dampers 51, 54, suitable plug valves may be employed without departing from the scope of this invention. It is also possible to employ pneumatic valves of the type described in copending application S.N. 854,376, filed November 20, 1959, now Patent No. 3,010,692 by Arthur P. Jentoft and assigned to the the assignee of the present invention. In place of pneumatic control means illustrated in FIGURE 5, suitable electrical control lines may be employed to operate electrically responsive valve means. In either case, it is preferred that the control lines, Whether pneumatic or electrical, be extended through the length of the underfloor air carrying cells 12 to facilitate not only original installation but also maintenance.

According to the provisions of the patent statutes, I have explained the principle, preferred embodiment and mode of operation of my invention and have illustrated and described what I now consider to represent its best embodiment. However, I desire to have it understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically illustrated and described.

I claim:

1. In a building having a longitudinal corridor and a plurality of rooms along at least one side thereof, an

improved air conditioning and distributing system including a plurality of metal cells extending transversely of said corridor and forming a part of the floor structure of the building, a pair of generally parallel air supply ducts beneath said metal cells and above the ceiling of said corridor, air conduit connections between a pair of said cells and each of said air supply ducts where by one of said air ducts supplies air to one cell of the said pair of metal cells and the other of said air ducts supplies air to the other cell of the said pair of metal cells, separate correlated air flow regulating means for each of said cells above the ceiling of said corridor adjacent to said supply ducts, said air flow regulating means including an inlet connected to one of said cells and an outlet connected to the same cell, baflle means Within each of said cells between said inlet and said outlet, said inlet and said air conduit connections being on the same side of said baffle means, air discharge means within each room having outlet means for discharging air into said room from the said pair of metal cells, and access openings in the ceiling of said corridor for each said air flow regulating means.

2. In a building having a longitudinal corridor and a plurality of rooms along at least one side thereof, an improved air conditioning and distributing system including a plurality of metal cells extending transversely of said corridor and forming a part of the floor structure of the building, a pair of generally parallel air supply ducts beneath said metal cells and above the ceiling of said corridor, air conduit connections between a pair of said cells and each of said air supply ducts whereby one of said air ducts supplies air to one cell of the said pair of metal cells and the other of said air ducts supplies air to the other cell of the said pair of metal cells, separate correlated air flow regulating means for each of said cells above the ceiling of said corridor, one of said air flow regulating means between said supply ducts, each of said air flow regulating means including an inlet connected to one of said cells and an outlet connected to the same cell, baffle means within each cell between said inlet and said outlet, said inlet and said air conduit connections being on the same side of said baffle means, air discharge means within each room having outlet means for discharging air into said room from the said pair of metal cells, and access openings in the ceiling of said corridor for each said air flow regulating means.

3. In an air conditioning and distributing system including a plurality of metal cells which form a part of the floor structure of a building, inlet means for introducing two streams of air of different condition respectively into a pair of said metal cells, whereby each individual cell of said pair receives air of a diiferent condition from that of the other cell, said cells being connected with air discharge means in a room of the said building, improved separate correlated air flow regulating means associated with each of said metal cells remote from said air dis charge means and externally of said room comprising a baffle means within each of said metal cells between said inlet means and said air discharge means, a U-shaped external conduit communicating with each of said metal cells at each side of said baffle means, and air flow control means responsive to conditions within said room, said air flow control means being in said external conduit below each metal cell whereby air enters into each of said metal cells through said inlet, leaves each cell through said external conduit, passes through said air flow control means and re-enters the same metal cell at a point between said baffle means and said air discharge means.

4. In an air conditioning and distributing system including a plurality of metal cells which form a part of the floor structure of a building, inlet means for introducing two streams of air of different condition respectively into a pair of said metal cells, whereby each individual cell of said pair receives air of a different condition from that of the other cell, said cells being connected with an air discharge means in a room of the said building, improved separate correlated air flow regulating means associated with each of said metal cells remote from said air discharge means comprising a baffle means within each of said metal cells between said inlet means and said air discharge means, a U-shaped external conduit communicating with each of said metal cells at each side of said bafiie means, and air flow control means in said external conduit below each metal cell whereby air enters into each of said metal cells through said inlet, leaves each cell through said external conduit, passes through said air flow control means and re-enters the same metal cell at a point between said bafile means and said air discharge means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

1. IN A BUILDING HAVING A LONGITUDINAL CORRIDOR AND A PLURALITY OF ROOMS ALONG AT LEAST ONE SIDE THEREOF, AN IMPROVED AIR CONDITIONING AND DISTRIBUTING SYSTEM INCLUDING A PLURALITY OF METAL CELLS EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY OF SAID CORRIDOR AND FORMING A PART OF THE FLOOR STRUCTURE OF THE BUILDING, A PAIR OF GENERALLY PARALLEL AIR SUPPLY DUCTS BENEATH SAID METAL CELLS AND ABOVE THE CEILING OF SAID CORRIDOR, AIR CONDUIT CONNECTIONS BETWEEN A PAIR OF SAID CELLS AND EACH OF SAID AIR SUPPLY DUCTS WHEREBY ONE OF SAID AIR DUCTS SUPPLIES AIR TO ONE CELL OF THE SAID PAIR OF METAL CELLS AND THE OTHER OF SAID AIR DUCTS SUPPLIES AIR TO THE OTHER CELL OF THE SAID PAIR OF METAL CELLS, SEPARATE CORRELATED AIR FLOW REGULATING MEANS FOR EACH OF SAID CELLS ABOVE THE CEILING OF SAID CORRIDOR ADJACENT TO SAID SUPPLY DUCTS, SAID AIR FLOW REGULATING MEANS INCLUDING AN INLET CONNECTED TO ONE OF SAID CELLS AND AN OUTLET CONNECTED TO THE SAME CELL, BAFFLE MEANS WITHIN EACH OF SAID CELLS BETWEEN SAID INLET AND SAID OUTLET, SAID INLET AND SAID AIR CONDUIT CONNECTIONS BEING ON THE SAME SIDE OF SAID BAFFLE MEANS, AIR DISCHARGE MEANS WITHIN EACH ROOM HAVING OUTLET MEANS FOR DISCHARGING AIR INTO SAID ROOM FROM THE SAID PAIR OF METAL CELLS, AND ACCESS OPENINGS IN THE CEILING OF SAID CORRIDOR FOR EACH SAID AIR FLOW REGULATING MEANS. 